Page 39 of Fall onto me
Foster nods appreciatively. “I didn’t know I was dating Indiana Jones.”
“Ha ha, but I’m more like batman.” I stretch my sore muscles.
He tilts his head. “You really are brilliant, you know?”
I could rack my brain all night, but when creativity runs out, you can’t just wish it back. Sometimes you have to step away and look at the big picture.
I set the sharpie down and join Foster on the bed. Instead of looking at the television, which only reminds us of the shadow man on the screen, we both watch the wall.
12
Foster wakes me with a gentle shake. “I have a surprise for you.” The curtains are pushed aside, allowing a stream of morning light to sift in.
He looks so cute when he wakes up, all obsidian sparkly eyes and tan skin, but me? I look like a monster. I stuff the comforter a little tighter against my face to hide the morning breath. “What is it?”
“We’re going on a yacht.”
“A what? How?”
He shrugs, “I’ve been able to have extra income from racing, and I wanted to do something to celebrate us.”
I’m sure my eyes are all doe-eyed right now. “I’m so excited! What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
* * *
Hand in hand,we walk down the newly painted dock towards an old man. I’m holding a picnic basket filled with snacks.
“It’s a perfect day to be on the water,” he says, tipping his sunhat. His white hair blows with the breeze underneath the brim of it. “Oran Stone.” He extends his hand, looking quite small compared to the vast boat beside us.
“I’m Skyler.” I return the shake with a smile, tilting my head to get a closer look at the necklace he’s wearing. It’s a diamond heart, small and feminine.
“And you’re Foster.” Oran claps his hand onto the man’s shoulder. “Your grandma and me go way back. My wife and her went to school together a long, long time ago.”
Foster nods. “Thanks for letting us rent it.”
“It’s a beautiful boat,” I tell Oran, looking over the pearly white surface. The name ‘Heart of My Sea’ is etched in baby blue cursive along the side.
“Thank you. Please make yourselves at home. I want to tell you our mission, and then you’re free to go. Just have her back before eleven tonight.”
You can tell he’s given this speech a hundred times by the way he says it, but with each word, you can hear the promise and purpose behind it.
Oran continues, “My wife passed away from cancer three years ago, and we traveled the world in this vessel. I’m too old to be out on long stretches, so I rent it out. Proceeds go to fund cancer research so that one day, people won’t lose their soulmates too early like I did.” He looks at his boat lovingly. “I hope that for the day, it brings you as much joy as it did for us for years.”
Foster shakes his hand again. “Thank you for trusting us.”
The man nods. “You’re welcome to use anything on board. I did just get it back from service last night. So be careful around the under cabinets in the kitchen; we had water damage from the storm.”
I hold our basket up. “We brought food.”
Oran snaps his finger, and hands Foster a key. “Best way to do it! Have a good time you two.”
He hobbles away with a cane while Foster helps me on the deck.
It’s all polished mahogany and sleek white, and every inch is designed in luxury. I follow Foster around as we check out each area, and when we pass the bed,
“Look!” I grin, pointing to a bottle of chilled champagne on the counter. “That’s really sweet.” I take his hand. “This all is really sweet.”
He pulls me in for a kiss. “I wanted to do something different for you. I love doing new things with you.”